Hi-- Thanks to Tom Bamberger who loaned me his new unit, I was able
to run this test:
QuickTime Movie (IMA:4 compressed sound)
http://www.uwm.edu/~type/audio-art-tech-gallery/mediafiles/H4_744_NH700_Com=
pare_Sm.mov
(8mb)
Caution, the recording is loud. Adjust sound level to a comfortable level
QuickTime Movie (uncompressed 16/48K sound)
http://www.uwm.edu/~type/audio-art-tech-gallery/mediafiles/H4_744_NH700_Com=
pareLrg.mov
(12.5mb)
No QuickTimeVideo Player? Use this free player for Mac or PC:
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/
The test compares files created sound files created with maximum mic
pre gain with one set of very low-noise Rode NT1-A mics used on all
three recorders:
Sound Devices 722: ($2400 USD)
Sony NH700 HI-MD Recorder ($115-$160 USD) used with Art Phantom II
unit to provide 48V phantom power for the Rode condenser mics ($50
USD)
Zoom H4 Recorder ($300 USD) (tested with internal phantom power on
and with the Art as well)
I use high mic pre gain to simulate recording ambience in very quiet
natural settings. The differences in noise performance between the
recorders/pres would be much less noticeable in loud settings. The
playback levels for the recordings have been adjusted to match as
close as I can judge by ear. The files produced by the 722 required
12dB boost to match those of the Hi-MD recorder and the files
produced by the Zoom H4 required 19dB boost.
I also noted:
1) The H4's headphone amp is weaker than most recorders I've used.
2) The whines produced in 44/16 and 48/24 record modes (and on the
test) seem to be consistent with other reports. There may be a
firmware fix for this, but I couldn't find one in brief search.
3) I did the test three times and had sound file corruption problems
with some takes in all three tests. I was off-loading to Mac OSX
Message: 10.
Subject: 3.4 via an SD card reader.
4) The phantom unit was able to supply enough power to operate two
8ma mics. With the NT1-A's used in the test (2ma current), there was
a residual "fizz" from time to time-- most often in the first 1-2
minutes after power-up.
5) A test comparing the H4's built-in mic with other popular electret
mics on Hi-MD is forthcoming. The H4 lacks PIP.
Hope this addresses some of the questions people have been raising. Rob D.
At 8:24 AM +0000 12/14/06, Roger Norwood wrote:
>Talking of mic amps Klas, you were playing with a Zoom H4,
>have I missed your evaluation somewhere?
>cheers
>BigRog
>
>Roger Norwood
>
>
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